PHILADELPHIA – La Salle redshirt junior Jordan Price scored 33 points, one short of a career high, and redshirt sophomore Tony Washington had 14 points and nine rebounds in his first action of the season to give La Salle an 83-75 victory over Lafayette on Monday at Tom Gola Arena.

Junior Cleon Roberts added 10 points for the Explorers, who improved to 3-0 with the victory. Sophomore Johnnie Shuler added nine points, five assists and five rebounds in a game-high 39 minutes.

"Because we respect Lafayette so much we are thrilled with the win," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "I think there is a lot of room for improvement, collectively and individually for us. When you beat a good team, and are up double digits most of the way and you still think you can improve you have to feel pretty good about the state of things."

Playing at full strength for the first time this season, La Salle received contributions from up and down the bench. Redshirt senior Rohan Brown grabbed 11 rebounds, one short of a career-high, while sophomore Amar Stukes dished a career-high six assists (against no turnovers). Stukes has 16 assists versus two turnovers this season.

The Explorers led by double-digits just over five minutes into the game as Price scored 14 of team's first 21 points to lead by 12 at the 14:48 mark. The advantage reached as many as 15 points with 5:39 to play before the Leopards went on a 17-4 run with Price on the bench to cut the deficit to just two right before halftime. Price finished with 18 in the half.

He started the second half like he began the game, scoring 10 of the team's first 17 points to give the hosts a 61-48 lead with 13:44 to play. The Explorers led by as many as 18 in the second half before Lafayette, the reigning Patriot League champions, closed the gap to eight with a late run.

The Leopards (1-3) were led by Matt Klinewski, who had 23 points.

Price's torrid start to the season has him averaging 29.3 ppg. through three contests, which could lead the nation when the evening's games finish up. He shot 11-for-14 from the field and connected on a career-high six three's, with just two misses. The Decatur, Ga. native is shooting nearly 60% from the field and 48% from three.

"He was always highly recruited, highly thought of and highly talented," Giannini said of Price. "He has matured, grown, and become a better overall player. He has kept himself in great shape. He deserves credit for being in the shape he is in and becoming the all-around player he is."

Washington, who missed the previous two games with a concussion and had only practiced twice leading into the game, showed no signs of tentative play. He annihilated his previous career-highs of two points and one rebound in his first extended minutes.

"Usually our guys are unselfish, but I think he can score on the block," Giannini said. "Where I really think he is going to stun people is his field goal percentage at the end of the year. What he did today is what he did in practice. He is a really good finisher and part of that is he doesn't force things and we don't force the ball to him. He can score on the block but he really excels as a finisher."

The Explorers made nine three's, which has been the magic number for the squad since the 2012-13 season. La Salle is 23-3 when making nine triples since the beginning of the 2012-13 campaign.

The Blue and Gold now head to Penn on Wednesday at 7 PM before visiting Rowan on Saturday.

NOTES: La Salle improved to 25-4 against non-conference opponents at Gola Arena since the 2012-13 season…The Explorers are 26-4 when dishing at least 16 assists (La Salle had 19 vs. Lafayette)…Price now has five 30+ point games to his credit as an Explorer…La Salle is 7-2 in November the past two seasons.